It’s 2026, yet many SOCs are still operating the way they did years ago, using tools and processes designed for a very different threat landscape. Given the growth in volumes and complexity of cyber threats, outdated practices no longer fully support analysts’ needs, staggering investigations and incident response.

Below are four limiting habits that may be preventing your SOC from evolving at the pace of adversaries, and insights into what forward‑looking teams are doing instead to achieve enterprise‑grade incident response this year.

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1. Manual Review of Suspicious Samples

Despite advances in security tools, many analysts still rely heavily on manual validation and analysis. This creates friction at every step—from processing samples to switching between tools and manually correlating findings. Manually dependent workflows are often the root cause of alert fatigue, delayed prioritization, and slower response, especially in high‑volume alert environments typical for enterprises.

What to do instead

Modern SOCs are shifting toward automation‑optimized workflows. Cloud‑based malware analysis services allow teams to run full‑scale threat detonations in a secure environment with no setup or maintenance required. Automated sandboxes handle the groundwork—delivering quick answers and in‑depth threat overviews—while analysts focus on higher‑priority tasks and incident response.

Example:

Enterprise SOCs using ANY.RUN’s Interactive Sandbox reduce MTTR by 21 minutes per incident. The sandbox can automatically handle CAPTCHAs and QR codes that hide malicious activity, giving analysts a complete view of threat behavior without manual intervention.

Transform your SOC in 2026 with ANY.RUN – Reach out to experts

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2. Relying Solely on Static Scans and Reputation Checks

Static scans and reputation checks are useful, but on their own they often miss the latest attacks. Open‑source intelligence databases can provide outdated indicators, leaving infrastructure vulnerable to novel payloads, short‑lived features, and evasion techniques that bypass signature‑based detection.

What to do instead

Leading SOCs employ behavioral analysis as the core of their operations. Real‑time detonation of files and URLs provides an instant view of malicious intent, even for never‑before‑seen threats. Dynamic analysis reveals the full execution flow, enabling fast detection of advanced threats and rich behavioral insights for confident investigations.

Example:

ANY.RUN’s sandbox delivers median MTTD of 15 seconds for interactive analyses, exposing detection logic, response artifacts, network indicators, and other behavioral evidence.

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3. Disconnected Tools

When SOCs rely on standalone tools for each task, reporting, tracing, and manual processing become fragmented. Gaps between solutions create risk, increase investigation time, and erode transparency.

What to do instead

SOC leaders should streamline workflows by integrating solutions into a unified view. Connecting the sandbox with SIEM, SOAR, EDR, and other security systems creates a seamless, full‑attack view for analysts.

Results:

• 3× improvement in analyst throughput

• 90 % of threats detected within 60 seconds

• Higher detection rates for low‑visibility attacks

• Automated interactivity cuts manual analysis time

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4. Over‑Escalating Suspicious Alerts

Frequent escalations between Tier 1 and Tier 2 are often avoidable. Lack of clear evidence and confidence leads Tier 1 analysts to defer decisions, increasing handoffs.

What to do instead

Provide conclusive insights, rich context, and structured summaries. AI‑generated reports that include basic conclusions, IOCs, and Sigma rules give Tier 1 analysts the justification needed to act without unnecessary escalation.

Impact:

• 30 % reduction in Tier 1 → Tier 2 escalations

• Faster incident response and improved decision‑making

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Business‑Centered Solutions by ANY.RUN

• Reduced Risk Exposure & Faster Containment – Early, behavior‑based detection and lower MTTR protect critical assets and reputation.

• Higher SOC Productivity & Operational Efficiency – Analysts resolve incidents faster while handling higher alert volumes without extra headcount.

• Scalable Operations for Enterprise Growth – API‑ and SDK‑driven integrations support expanding teams and distributed SOCs.

• Stronger, Faster Decision‑Making – Unified visibility, structured reports, and cross‑tier context enable confident decisions at every level.

Key metrics reported by over 15,000 SOC teams in 195 countries:

• 21 minutes reduced MTTR per incident

• 15‑second median MTTD

• 3× improvement in analyst throughput

• 30 % fewer Tier 1 → Tier 2 escalations

Empower analysts with ANY.RUN’s solutions to boost performance and cut MTTR.

Request demo access

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Conclusion

Improving MTTR in 2026 is about removing friction, optimizing processes, and streamlining the entire workflow with solutions that support automation, dynamic analysis, and enterprise‑grade integration. This is the strategy already applied by top‑performing SOCs and MSSPs.